Ensure That the Force is Strong with the new Farm Bill

The Farm Bill is a lot like a zombie—just when you think it’s dead, it jumps up and lunges at you. Now it’s lurching through Congress, where the Senate may vote on it as early as this week.

Maybe the Farm Bill is more like Darth Vader: scary, intimidating, evil on the outside but with the potential to be a hero. The debate will be intense. Please, read a bit more to learn about the pros and cons of this version of the Farm Bill, and then pick up the phone to nudge your Senator to use the good side of the Force on the Farm Bill.

Healthy food comes from healthy farms, and Georgia’s senators have a lot of clout when it comes to agriculture.

Increase the per farm commodity subsidy limitation by 92 percent and leave in place current loopholes that allow individual farms to collect unlimited payments.

Reinvest most of the savings from direct payments back into new commodity and crop insurance subsidies.

Fail to include a national provision to reduce subsidies for plowing up native prairie, and it wouldn’t link receipt of insurance subsidies to common sense conservation practices to preserve the natural resources on which our long-term food security depends.

On a related note, it’s very interesting that at the same time Congress wrangles with the Farm Bill, USDA Commissioner Tom Vilsak unveiled several new efforts to support organic farmers. He even told NPR:

“I think it’s important [organic agriculture], as we take a look at how we might rebuild the rural economy and revitalize it. We want to make sure young people have an opportunity to get into the farming business and that can be expensive unless you start small.”

“I’m calling to urge the senator to help beginning farmers and support sustainable agriculture by protecting the Conservation Stewardship Program and the successful National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program.